Osteospermum plant named ‘WC 32/44’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘WC 32/44’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely and continuous flowering habit; and large inflorescences with white-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Botanical denomination: ‘WC 32/44’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘WC 32/44’.

The new Osteospermum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hann. Muenden, Germany. The objective ofthe breeding program was to create new compact and continuous floweringOsteospermum cultivars with large and attractive inflorescences.

The new Osteospermum originated from an open-pollination in 1998 of agroup of unnamed proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis selections withwhite-colored flowers, not patented. The new Osteospermum was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated open-pollination grown in a controlled environmentin Hann. Muenden, Germany in 1999.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum by terminal vegetativecuttings was first conducted in Hann. Muenden, Germany in 1999. Asexualreproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this newOsteospermum are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar WC 32/44 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘WC 32/44’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘WC 32/44’ as a new and distinct Osteospermum:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely and continuous flowering habit.    -   4. Large inflorescences with white-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of theparent selections in plant habit and size, inflorescence size andcontinuity of flowering.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of the cultivarCape Daisy Zimba, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,336. However,plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact, inflorescences openearlier in the morning and stay open longer at night, and have whiterray florets than plants of the cultivar Cape Daisy Zimba.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can also be compared to plants of thecultivar SunSation Yellow Spot, not patented. However, plants of the newOsteospermum have larger inflorescences and whiter ray florets thanplants of the cultivar SunSation Yellow Spot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Osteospermum showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newOsteospermum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘WC 32/44’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘WC 32/44’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., in apolycarbonate-covered greenhouse during the winter and early spring andunder conditions typical of commercial Osteospermum production. Duringthe production of the plants day temperatures ranged from 21 to 24° C.and night temperatures ranged from 16 to 18° C. Plants were pinched onetime. Plants had been growing for about 22 weeks in 16.5-cm containerswhen the photographs and the description were taken. Color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar WC 32/44.-   Parentage: Open-pollination of a group of unnamed proprietary    Osteospermum ecklonis selections with white-colored flowers, not    patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate rooting.—About two weeks at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial herbaceous container            and garden plant. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit;            inverted triangle. Freely branching habit, about six primary            lateral branches each with several secondary lateral            branches. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 38 cm.        -   Plant width or area of spread.—About 39 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Internode length: About 8 mm. Aspect: Mostly upright.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 145B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 7.8 cm. Width: About 3.8 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate with            prominent lobing. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire with random pointed lobes. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent;            coarse. Color: Developing foliage, upper and lower surfaces:            147A. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Fully            expanded foliage, lower surface: Darker than 147B. Venation,            upper surface: 146D. Venation, lower surface: 147D. Petiole:            Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            147D.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Solitary terminal and axillary inflorescences            held above and beyond the foliage on strong peduncles.            Composite inflorescence form, radially symmetrical, with            ligulate-shaped ray florets and disc florets massed at the            center; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a            capitulum. Inflorescences persistent. Inflorescences face            mostly upright.        -   Flowering response.—Plants flower continuous and freely from            the spring through the fall.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color            and substance for about three to four days on the plant.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering; at one time,            about seven open inflorescences and inflorescence buds per            lateral stem.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About            1.1 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 150C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Large, about 8 cm. Depth            (height): About 2 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.2 cm.            Receptacle height: About 1 cm. Receptacle diameter: About            2.4 cm.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape:            Ligulate. Apex: Slightly emarginate. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; satiny. Orientation: Initially upright then 75 to            90° from vertical. Number of ray florets per inflorescence:            About 26 in one or two whorls. Color: When opening, upper            surface: 155D. When opening, lower surface: 150D. Fully            opened, upper surface: 155D. Fully opened, lower surface:            Ground color, 155D, tinged with 150D.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex: Five-pointed.            Length: About 8 mm. Width: At apex: About 2 mm. At base:            Less than 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About 100. Color: Immature: 156C. Mature: 155D.        -   Phyllaries.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly coarse.            Number per inflorescence: About 22 in a single whorl. Color,            upper surface: 144B. Color, lower surface: 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 8.4 cm. Length,            second peduncle: About 12.2 cm. Length, third peduncle:            About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: Terminal            peduncles, erect; secondary and tertiary peduncles, about 35            to 40° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Sparsely            pubescent; coarse. Color: 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen number: Five per floret; fused around style.            Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            color: 9C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 9A.            Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil            number: One per floret. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma            shape: Two-parted. Stigma color: 9C. Style length: About            3 mm. Style color: 155D. Ovary color: 145D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and/or fruit production has not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Osteospermums has not been observed on plants grown under commercial    greenhouse or outdoor conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from 4 to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘WC 32/44’,as illustrated and described.